MAHLE Powertrain Supercharges Hydrogen Capability with Northampton Expansion
MAHLE Powertrain, the engineering arm of the MAHLE Group, is enhancing its Northampton facility with a state-of-the-art hydrogen powertrain testing facility. The facility will house two tube-trailers with rapid switch-over capability, ensuring an almost uninterrupted hydrogen supply. The addition of upgraded engine dynamometers, boasting a capacity of 900kW and 4,000Nm, positions the centre to meet the escalating demand for hydrogen powertrain development and testing across both light and heavy-duty applications.
"Industries such as off-highway, heavy-duty, and marine are increasingly adopting hydrogen combustion engines to reduce their carbon emissions where electrification is impractical," stated Simon Reader, Director of Global Engineering Services at MAHLE Powertrain. "This expansion, driven by robust customer demand, equips our test cells with a dedicated hydrogen supply, enabling rigorous testing of even the most demanding engines in terms of weight and torque."
The facility is actively engaged in the development of hydrogen fuel cell systems, hydrogen combustion engines, and the testing of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles. It will soon commence the development of an H2-ICE concept that converts existing heavy-duty diesel engines to hydrogen combustion, thus avoiding the need for complete replacements and leveraging existing infrastructure to hasten the shift towards net-zero mobility.
The facility meticulously adheres to the BCGA (British Compressed Gases Association) guidelines for hydrogen storage and handling. Each individual test cell incorporates a unique MAHLE Powertrain-designed system for monitoring and safely managing potential gas leaks. The company also possesses expertise in developing engines that run on renewable alcohol fuels, such as methanol.
